March 31 (UPI) -- A Maryland judge denied bond to a 17-year-old Rockville High School student accused of rape in a case that caught the attention of the White House because of the suspect's immigration status.
Henry Sanchez-Milian, 18, and Jose O. Montano, 17, are accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old female student on March 16 at the school located about 15 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. The girl told police the male students forced her into a bathroom after she refused to engage in sex and that she was raped and sodomized.
Sanchez-Milian and Montano, ninth-graders who said the sex was consensual and were charged with first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree sexual assault, will be tried as adults. Sanchez-Milian was transferred to a juvenile detention facility.
The White House on March 21 said the Rockville High School case is a reason why President Donald Trump is trying to be so tough on illegal immigration, as Sanchez-Milian in an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala.
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On Thursday during the first Montgomery County school board meeting since the alleged rape, dozens of protesters gathered outside of the meeting with signs reading "Safety Not Sanctuary" and "Protect Our Children!"
Some called on Montgomery County Public School Superintendent Jack Smith to resign. Some parents were concerned because the alleged rape was not on the agenda for the meeting.
"What's happened here in Rockville at Rockville High School is deplorable. The security situation at the school -- the lack of security ... Really the point here too is that we have 17- and- 18-year-olds coming in as -- they're freshmen," Montgomery County resident Don Irvine told NBC News.
Smith said the school system would review security procedures at Montgomery County Schools.
"Following the review, we will work closely with each school on next steps, including strengthening security procedures where needed. As a part of this process, we will be benchmarking best practices with other school districts and youth-serving organizations," Smith said.
